Metro Website Development CIMS Project Six Steps for Doing Business with Metro - Live Webinar Q&A Session June 30, 2015

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1 Metro Website Development CIMS Project Six Steps for Doing Business with Metro - Live Webinar Q&A Session June 30, 2015 Questions To whom it may concern, I'm Charles Favors of CBF Xeriscape Designs. My question is do you have to register as a vendor for every category that you desire to do business with Metro? For example I have registered as a graphic artist and now I'm doing Xeriscape design. So, do I register my landscaping business with metro or can I use the same vendor number that I already have? Thanks Charles Favors CBF Xeriscape Designs LLC What is the address of the Vendor Portal? Metro vendors already certified DBE/SBE and already registered on the ivendor portal, do we need to re-register/complete the isupplier application? When we get to the small business section and the criteria could you address: I am a one person small business max annual revenue < $300,000. But because of existing personal net worth (parents inheritance, house value, etc.) it appears I exceed the small business net worth threshold. Why is personal net worth a criteria for my small business? They are completely unrelated. Thanks! Are the solicitations advertised on the Portal different from those advertised here? If a firm is certified as DBE in another state (WA) is the firm also required to be certified in CA? Will we be receiving a copy of this presentation? Answers Hello Mr. Favors, If you are offering the different services you provide under the same company name, then you can use the same vendor number that you already have. Metro.net/business If you already have a vendor number, your company profile is already on file so you do not need to re-register. Please call to verify your vendor ID number Metro follows Federal Regulation Title 49 Part 26 which requires that the personal net worth (PNW) does not exceed $1.32 million. This regulation among others is used to determine economic disadvantage. In calculating PNW the applicant s primary residence is excluded. Please call or us at, certificationunitl@metro.net, for additional information. It is the same information. You can find open solicitations under the Solicitations tab. If a firm is certified as a DBE in another state they are required to apply at one of the California Unified Certification Program member agencies of which Metro is a part of. The interstate application process is slightly different in that the applicant may ask the home agency to send the on-site report and other documents to the new agency to assist in expediting the application process. Please call or us at, certificationunitl@metro.net, for additional information. Yes, it will be posted under the Getting Started tab under Web Tutorials. P a g e 1

2 Under what category would glass mosaic art fall? I work for a vehicle wrap company. What is the best way for me to go about gaining the opportunity to work with Metro? Is the DVBE program a separate program? Or is the goal lumped into the SBE program? Do you work with small businesses? What is an informal procurement? If I did not receive an award, who can I talk to? Do you often have the need for architectural/real estate photographers? Does this system address the doctors used for disability and work compensation needs? I have a local newspaper that I d like to have Metro advertise in. Is this the proper way to establish a relationship of that manner? Is this Webinar for construction projects? What type of small business programs does Metro offer? Are any of the forms to be included in a response to an RFP in fillable PDF form online? If so, would you please provide the website address? Thank you. Do contractors have to sign PLA s? You can find the code at the NIACS website Contact Bob New at (213) There are several buyers assigned to this commodity. The DVBE program is a separate program that established a 3% goal for all non-federally funded competitively negotiated contracts over $100,000. Both the SBE and DVBE are separate programs. However, both programs apply to nonfederal competitively negotiated contracts; therefore, the SBE and DVBE goals are listed concurrently in the solicitation. Yes, and we also conduct small business workshop, please visit the vendor portal events page for information on upcoming small business networking events. It is a procurement that is less than $100,000 and it does not require prequalification. Request a debrief from the contract administrator who managed the solicitation. On occasion we have a need for such services. Photographs are needed to document existing properties. It is a sub contracted service. Check the 12-Month Look Ahead tab to see if this The vendor portal addresses all solicitations. You do need to join our register and join our vendor community first. Then contact Ms. Lyon, lyonm@metro.net on how to be a part of the advertising providers. Yes, these steps apply to all types of procurements, including construction. We offer Disadvantage Business Enterprise program, Small Business Enterprise program, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program, and a Small Business Prime program. Visit the Vendor Portal for information on each program. Forms are under the Getting Started tab. We are working on converting applicable forms to be fillable PDFs which will be available shortly. Construction projects over $2.5M are eligible for Metro s Project Labor Agreement/Construction Careers Policy (PLA/CCP). Construction projects P a g e 2

3 Can the same Prequalification form be used for multiple Metro submittals (just updated the names of the RFPs)? Who decides the finishing material of Art work to be done; Authorities, Artists or both Ceramics, mosaics etc. Can we find Metro certified small business online? If a solicitation comes out for products we manufacture, but we are listed as an approved manufacturer. What is the process for submitting alternates? Are notifications for solicitations sent to all of the registered vendors with the appropriate NAICS codes? If so, how are they sent (e.g., , US mail, etc.) Do we need a new login for this website as compared to the one through oracle ebusiness? But we are a small business certified with the SBA and many other state/local entities IT does appear Metro is different. If I m certified WOSB in the US do I have to certify through Metro as well? Do small businesses need to be certified? If so by whom? will contain language in the solicitation containing PLA/CCP requirements if applicable. For Metro construction projects that have our Project Labor Agreement/Construction Careers Policy (PLA/CCP) on them, all contractors must sign a Letter of Assent binding them to the requirements of the PLA/CCP. This requirement is project specific and terminates at the end of the construction project. Once approved, you can use the approval for multiple submittals. However, you do have to certify that you continue to meet the Pre- Qualification requirements for every solicitation over $100,000. Our artwork is reviewed and monitored by our Communications Department. Please call Maya Emsden, (213) , to receive additional information on Metro s Art Program. Yes, under the Small Business Tools tab then click on Links and Reports. If chemical, it requires a MSDS sheet(s) to be submitted for evaluation. If it is a part that goes on a train or a bus, you must submit proper documentation about the part and its specifications. Solicitations are posted on our Vendor Portal, under the Solicitations tab and will list the appropriate code(s). Notifications are sent to registered vendors whose profile indicates they are a source for the requested goods or services. A login is not required to use our Vendor Portal. Please contact our Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department at or , certificationunit@metro.net, to verify if your certifications can be accepted by Metro. Yes, Metro only accepts Metro s Small Business Enterprise certification and the DBE certification. Please contact our Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department at or , certificationunit@metro.net, to verify if your certifications can be accepted by Metro. Yes, small businesses need to be certified by our Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department. Please call or us at, certificationunitl@metro.net, to obtain a certification application. P a g e 3

4 Where is my vendor ID number? We are a cleaning service firm. Are there opportunities for janitorial services? Is there a regular meeting for vendors looking for partners? Or perhaps is there a website that vendors can go to, to find partners with whom to team? What information does the 12-month forecast include? As a Veteran business owner, would I need to report Metro Vending Corp. to the SAM Agency prior to the bidding process? What are Metro Supplier Diversity Goals (%)? And how well are you achieving your goals in each diverse category? Who is the buyer of janitorial services? Is the new small business compliance reporting system a part of this vendor portal? How do we engage in Enterprise Software solutions around analytics and connected products/sensors for predictive maintenance? We are an IT Services Company, provide IT Service & also Staff Augmentation services, what is the best way to do business with Metro in this Scenario? Are contact awards public information? If so, is there a dollar threshold that determines that? Is there usually a LBE (local) preference on contracts? If our firm is a DBE and SBE Certified in California (CUCP) do we need to be certified with Metro also? Please call to verify your vendor ID number. Please check our Solicitation page to see if opportunities for janitorial services are available. Here are a couple of ways to team up Attend the solicitation pre proposal conference to network with other companies. And, visit our Vendor Portal under the Small Business Tools tab then click on Links and Reports to find certified Small Businesses. Our 12-Month Look Ahead is a forecast of the solicitations that Metro is considering in the next 12 Information provided includes the Project Type, a Scope of Work summary, the Project Title, and Estimated Cost. Metro offers a Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise program. Please check with the other agency for their requirements. Metro has a 27% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal, FY2015 DBE attainment is 20.89%. Metro does not have a dedicated buyer for janitorial services. For more information, contact us at vcmfeedback@metro.net Not currently, but the link to access the system will be added to the vendor portal. We invite you to register and join our Vendor community. Without a vendor profile, we will not know what services your firm provides. Yes, all awards are posted under the Awards tab. No. Metro does not have a local business preference on contracts. There are different guidelines for DBE and SBE certifications. For example if you are DBE certified by a CUCP agency, Metro will accept your certification for DBE. Metro s SBE program is unique to Metro and you will have to apply through Metro for the SBE certification. Please contact our Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department, or , certificationunit@metro.net, to verify if your certifications can be accepted by Metro. P a g e 4

5 How much work is there for printing services? In the past few years I ve seen very few bids opening. Is the 3% DVBE a goal or requirement with Metro similar to what California DGS requires state agencies to meet? And, is there a good faith effort for prime contractors to find DVBE business, or is there no good faith effort as the state of California does not allow good faith efforts for prime contractor for DVBE businesses? Will there be a bid recap to be posting at vendor portal after bid close? If we have follow up questions, who can we contact regarding step #1? Are all you supplies ordered on P.O. included order under $1,000? I currently provide some material to Metro i.e. paint material. I have not been getting bids as I have before. What steps can I take to continue receiving bids? How long does the process of becoming a registered SBE typically take? What is the website for contractor s to register? Is communication equipment, such as fiber optic equipment, purchased from the selected contractors or are they purchased directly from Metro? Are packaging supplies such as corrugated boxes or stretch film a product Metro purchases? We are certified as a SBA and DBE, in addition to certification with the State of California as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Company. In November of 2014 Metro created a program for Veterans. When should we expect to see more programs set aside for Service Disabled Veterans? Meeting the DVBE goal is a condition of award. If the DVBE goal is not met at time of bid/proposal submission, the bidder/proposer must submit good faith efforts with its bid or proposal. Yes, Bid tabulations are posted under the Awards tab. For more information, contact us at or us at vcmfeedback@metro.net Yes, we (Metro) issues a Purchase Order for all supplies. Please review your vendor profile and verify the information is current and accurate. If you have questions, contact us at Once the applicant has submitted a complete application with all required documents it may take up to 90 days or less for certification. Many times the process is shorter and if the firm is bidding on a Metro project they should indicate that on the application and the Certification Unit will make every effort to expedite the process. Please contact our Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department, certificationunit@metro.net, to obtain additional information on Small Business certifications. Metro.net/business under the Getting Started tab Metro purchases goods and services from the vendor community who responded to our requests for proposals or bids. For more information, contact us at vcmfeedback@metro.net Metro implemented a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program (DVBE) and accepts firms certified as DVBE through the California Department of General Services. Metro also has a Veterans Hiring Initiative and additional services provided through GO511. P a g e 5

6 Do you need a login because the vendor number is required to download? Follow-up to log-in question: there is a log-in link at the top of the web page. Is that only for internal staff use, not vendors? My small business might have been registered with metro in the past but I am not sure. How do I find that out? I am assuming since we received the webinar that means my company must be registered? Will the solicitations documents be available for download at the portal, or still for purchase at MTA? I am already registered on metro.net/business. Where do I update my profile? Is there a limit to the number of awards any one company can actively work? Should we complete the prequalification process at any time, or should we wait and complete it in response to a particular solicitation? Is a pre-qualification only applicable to a specific RFP? We are a ticket printing co. How would we get on a bid list for those types of tickets? And would the bids come to our ? How do you get in contact with the end user for small items that P.O. are not issued? Is there a help desk for the vendor portal I can contact for assistance on how to update our current registration? Where is the best place to get information about the solicitation pre-meeting information? You do not need a login to view our open solicitations. If you want to download a solicitation package, you are required to identify your company so we can notify you of change(s) to the solicitation information, if any. The login link is for future use. Contact us at to verify your vendor status. Contact us at to verify your vendor status. Solicitation documents are available for download at the Vendor Portal under the Solicitations tab. Please not there are some solicitations, mainly construction/public works, where the documents cannot be downloaded only purchased. In the Getting Started tab, Step 1, there is a link to update your profile. There is not a limit, however, you do have to certify that you continue to meet the Pre- Qualification requirements for every solicitation over $100,000. If you have not had to be Pre-Qualified for a past solicitation, we recommend waiting until you respond to a solicitation as Pre-Qualification approval does have an expiration date. No. Once Pre-Qualification approval is gained, it is valid until its expiration date. However, you do have to certify that you continue to meet the Pre-Qualification requirements for every solicitation over $100,000. Check the 12-Month Look Ahead tab to see what goods or services are being considered over the next 12 Also, check our open solicitations posted on the Solicitations tab. We (Metro) issue a purchase order or purchase authorization for all supplies. Contact us at Solicitation pre-proposal conference information is listed in the solicitation summary page. Under the Solicitations tab, click on the solicitation P a g e 6

7 Can a large business register in your portal? Is there a time limit a company has to wait before applying for another contract when that company has already won one? Are informal procurements listed on Metro connect yet? Is there a way to know what solicitations are being considered so I can figure out who to partner with or what teams I should be looking to join? In general, is attendance at pre-proposal meetings mandatory? Do you also contract for professional services in the legal field? What division does audio/video production fall under at Metro? Will these questions and answered be on the that follows? Is there a contact list of purchasing agents in specific departments? We are an IT, Managed Print Services and IT office equipment company are there any projects for these areas? We are a Metro certified SBE providing consulting engineering service. Do we need to register with the DIR as a contractor? Is there a preference for doing business with local vendors? Do you have open contracts with vendors? number link for the desired solicitation. Yes, businesses of all sizes are invited to join our Vendor community. See the Getting Started tab on our Vendor Portal to register. No, there is no time limit. However, you do have to certify that you continue to meet the Pre- Qualification requirements for every solicitation over $100,000. Informal procurements will be listed on the Solicitations tab towards the latter part of July. Check the 12-Month Look Ahead tab to see what goods or services are being considered over the next 12 Attendance at pre-proposal conferences are optional. However, they provide an opportunity to ask questions and find partners who are interested in teaming up to provide services. Our legal services are provided through the County of Los Angeles. Check the County of Los Angeles solicitation offerings. Our Communications Department oversees this type of activity. The Questions and Answers will be posted on our Vendor Portal under the Getting Started/Web tutorial tab See the Contact link at the bottom of our Home page. For more information on this requirement, visit the State of California Department of Industrial Relations at No. Metro does not have a local business preference on contracts. Metro issues purchase order(s) for specified quantities of goods or services. P a g e 7